Sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele erupted for a career-high 19 kills while also collecting seven blocks. Senior rightside hitter Kenadee Coyle led the Hilltoppers' defensive efforts against the Panthers (2-16 overall, 0-5 CUSA) with eight total blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-20
Van De Wiele erupted at the net for the Hilltoppers, putting together a .727 [8-0-11] hitting percentage while helping record the sole team block alongside redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer. The Hilltoppers finished off the first set of the match with a 5-3 run that was punctuated by Van De Wiele's eighth kill of set. At the service line, WKU recorded two service aces from Bauer and sophomore middle hitter Gabby Weihe.
Set 2: 25-14
Freshman middle hitter Faith Young stepped up big time for the Hilltoppers, recording four kills in 10 attempts for a .667 hitting percentage [4-0-6] in set two. At the net, Van De Wiele continued to be a threat to the Panthers as she posted an additional three blocks for herself to bring her total to four and the team block total to five. Through two sets, WKU was hitting .425 [31-4-62] while FIU was held to a meager .125 [20-12-64].
Set 3: 25-23
FIU fought back in set three, improving from a .056 hitting percentage in the second to a .357 hitting percentage in the third. Coyle added five kills to her total in the third to lead the WKU offense. Both Coyle and Weihe contributed two blocks a piece to bring the team total to eight.
Set 4: 25-19
In the penultimate set, Van De Wiele erupted at the net, adding an additional four kills to bring her total to 16 through four sets. Four different Hilltoppers recorded one block while Cox added a service ace. WKU improved its hitting percentage from .314 to .357 but FIU came out on top having improved from .357 in set three to .483 in set four.
Set 5: 15-12
The Hilltoppers opened Saturday's final set with a 4-0 run that featured two kills and a service ace. WKU finished the set with .316 [8-2-19] hitting percentage led by Van De Wiele with three. Coyle and Weihe added two blocks each to bring the team total to 14 while Weihe also grabbed the lone service ace of the match.
NOTABLES
- Saturday's match was only WKU's third five-set match of the season
- Izzy Van De Wiele posted a career-high 19 kills
- Kaylee Cox joined Van De Wiele in double-digit kills with 14
- Kenadee Coyle led in blocks with eight
- Callie Bauer collected a season-high 54 assists
NEXT UP
WKU will close out its trip to Florida with a second match against FIU on Sunday. First serve is set for 11 a.m. CT.
